Picking A Car That Evokes That Feeling – Part 2 (VW Golf)

I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for German automobiles. I blame my parents. I got my introduction to Volkswagen and Audi at an early age. I didn’t actualize as a kid that VW and Audi were brands under the same company back then, but I did notice that the windows on the Audi had both VW and Audi logos etched in them. Also, I noticed similar cabin components across the two brands.

My first Audi was a 1978 5000 S, followed by a nineteen-eighty-something 5000 CS, followed by a 1986 4000 CS Quattro (Audi’s all-wheel drive technology). All were beater cars, and the 5000 S was in the best condition. It came with all its original equipment, a large and permanent red splotch in the rear, driver’s-side floor carpet, and a murder of unused 22-caliber bullets in the trunk.

From there I graduated to VW with a nineteen-eight-something Fox, then a 2002 Golf, and finally a 2008 Jetta SE. The Fox was a heater-less death trap which I bought for $600.00 (USD), while the Golf and Jetta cost significantly more, but with heat. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, you get what you pay for in life, but it still costs you.

What I love about VWs is their minimalist approach to interior layout and controls. You can pretty much jump into any VW and figure out the controls in a very short amount of time That’s comes into play if you rent or borrow a car. Also, you get a good blend of build quality, reliability, value-for-money, and style, and that’s purposely.

2004 Volkswagen Golf R32

I haven’t owned a Golf in a while, and had been fantasizing about a GTI version when I spotted this electric blue beauty you see here. I love the simple, yet semi-aggressive body-kit. Its stance is bold and tight, but not show-car pretentious.

The ride-height is lowered, but not so obnoxiously, that it clowns (what look like) its 18-inch wheels.

I like that not much else appears visually to have been done externally to the Golf other than the tint, which is a must-have, especially for Arizona summers. My Golf was 100% stock, with manual transmission (which I loved), but lots of torque steer. It also could be a tight fit for three adolescents in the rear. Of course, there are variants in the Golf line including turbos, six-cylinders, and all-wheel drives, not to mention a seemingly endless list of OEM and aftermarket modification that can be had for a price. Still, the people’s car Golf was, and still can be, good value for the money. Perhaps a GTI test drive is in order?

EDIT: As luck would have it, I ran into the owner of that lovely Golf. It turns out it’s actually a de-badged (wait for it), limited edition, 2004 Golf R32. The owner did most of the work on it himself, and it has less than 70,000 miles on the odometer.